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In
an attempt to raise Organ Donation Awareness within Chennai city, MOHAN Foundation
(Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network), a not-for-profit organization organized an
‘Organ Donation Rally’ at the Marina Beach, Chennai, South India from 7 AM to 9
AM. A first-of-its-kind sand sculpture on organ donation was also created on
the sands of the Marina beach.
“Tamil Nadu is at the forefront of the
deceased organ donation programme in India. The latest statistics show that
there have been 230 organ donors in the state from October 2008 till date. As a
result 1318 organs and tissues have been donated saving many lives. Events such as this help people realize the
importance of this cause and builds positive public will about organ donation,”
said Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee of MOHAN Foundation.
The
event drew an enthusiastic response from corporate and colleges like Loyola
College, Agrasen College, Quaid-e-Milleth, Sindhi College, SDNB Vaishnav College
who sent forth their students in large numbers to participate in the rally.
The
rally commenced at the Triumph of Labour statue. Mr. Sharad Sharma, Chief General
Manager, State Bank of India, handed over the baton for flag off to Mr. Saidai
S. Duraisamy, Mayor, Corporation of Chennai, who flagged of the rally.
The
rally culminated at the sand sculpture that was created in the sands near the
Gandhi statue. The theme of organ
donation was beautifully brought out in the sculpted sand by the students of
the Govt College of Fine Arts. The ambience was perfect for the students of
Madras Christian College who then gave a vibrant street theatre performance on
organ donation.
Dr.
V. Kanagasabai, Dean, MMC & RGGGH, Dr. M. Panchanathan, JD (MEDL), DMRHS, Dr.
N. Muthurajan, Dy. Director of Medical Education, and Dr. V. Palani, Medical
Superintendent, addressed the gathering. The 33rd edition of the
Indian Transplant newsletter was released by Mr. Anantha Padmanaban, Managing
Director, NAC Jewellers and the first copy was received by the Mayor.
Mr.
Sharad Sharma, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India presided over the
function. He said that SBI as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility
initiative had donated a public education van to MOHAN Foundation so that
awareness on organ donation could be spread to a wide spectrum of people.
The
Chief Guest at the rally, Mayor Saidai Duraisamy, spoke about the importance of
involving the youth in the organ donation movement. All the dignitaries pledged
their support for organ donation by signing a symbolic Donor Card.
The
rally was supported by Madras Medical College, Cadaver Transplant
Programme-Govt. of Tamil Nadu, National Network for Organ Sharing, TANKER
Foundation, NAC Jewellers, Apollo Hospitals, Lanson Toyota, Sri Raghavendra
Constructions and SS Music.
MOHAN
Foundation a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation was started to
promote deceased organ donation. It is a registered NGO with Income Tax
exemption under Section 80G and 35AC and has offices in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore,
Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Delhi, Visakhapatnam and USA.
The message that strongly came
across in today’s rally was: CHOOSE LIFE…WITH MOHAN FOUNDATION…Organ
donation is all about giving life – life that only YOU can choose to give, to
help thousands of patients waiting for an organ or tissue transplant.
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